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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/21/1990 SWC MinutesMOUNT PROSPECT RECYCLING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES JUNE 21, 1990 The meeting -was called,to order at 7:36 P.M. by Chairman Westlake. The roll was called with the following results: PRESENT: Ken Westlake Paul Hofert Dick Bachhuber George Luteri Elizabeth Herbert Mary Winkler Herbert Weeks - PW ABSENT: Joe Kubik Steve Polit Brian Robertson GUESTS: Ron Otto Chirag Mehta Mike Locashio The minutes of the June 1990 meeting were reviewed and, after brief discussion and one spelling correction, approved as writ- ten. Chairman Westlake announced there would be some additions and changes to the published agenda. Mike Locashio, a summer intern with the cable company, indicated he would like to videotape parts of the meeting for a project he is working on. There were no objections. CITIZENS FORUM Chirag Mehta of 120 Bobby Lane, a sophomore at the University of Illinois, voiced strong support for Mount Prospect's recycling program. He asked if we planned to start collecting office paper and plastics and, if so, would they be collected curbside. Ken Westlake reviewed the plans for collecting plas- tics and tin cans. Herb Weeks added that Village offices are recycling office paper. Paul Hofert indicated that he would be discussing office paper later in the agenda. Ron Otto, of 304 N. Stratton Lane, indicated that Jewel has started collecting plastic grocery bags and the YMCA was collect- ing cans. He asked about the status of the retail/commercial recycling program. Ken Westlake briefly reviewed the status of commercial recycling. The committee briefly discussed the recently announced plastic bag programs at Jewel and Eagle grocery stores. PROGRAM REVIEW The figures for the curbside recycling program were reviewed. Herb Weeks reported that there has been an increasing number of incidents of illicit dumping of yard wastes both on public and private properties. About 30 bags were found at Melas Park. There have been complaints from homeowners who found plastic bags of grass clippings on their yards. The Village would like very much to catch some of these midnight dumpers. He also mentioned that there were three special pickups of tree limbs after the recent windstorms. There was no problem disposing of the chips because there is a waiting list for loads of wood chip mulch. Herb Weeks also reported that BFI says.that the curbside pickups of yard waste are becoming smooth and routine. The main problem continues to be a few people each week who are missed and who call the Public Works Department after BFI has left the Vil- lage. PW asks these residents if they can wait until the next pickup, and if not they will send a man out to pick up the bags and put them in the Village yard material container. Copies of the Mallard Lake Landfill rules relating to yard wastes were given to the Commission by Herb Weeks. He noted that a waste hauler could have all dumping privileges cancelled if caught dumping yard waste at the site. He expects that such severe rules will encourage self -policing of the landfill ban. The state has very few inspections, so it appears at this time they will be relying on occasional random inspections to enforce the ban. Ken Westlake mentioned that the Commission had previously dis- cussed conducting a survey to try to find out why some people don't participate in the curbside program. He and George Luteri volunteered to put together a sample survey form for a random mailing. The mailing would be targeted for September distribu- tion, probably about 500 copies. Elizabeth Herbert mentioned that she knew someone who was famil- iar with the pyrolysis of solid waste in Germany and asked if the Commission was interested in hearing about the progress. Ken Westlake indicated he saw no objection to this person attend- ing a commission meeting and describing the process. Ken Westlake mentioned that Seattle has started a pilot program in which the garbage from each house is weighted when it is dumped in the truck. Each house is identified by a bar code and is billed monthly based on the weight of garbage collected. Herb Weeks reported that BFI has moved its transfer station operations out of Melas Park to an adjacent site belonging to Multigraphics. The latter is charging $850 per month plus re- pairs for a 30 -day renewable lease. This is a temporary situa- tion. BFI is moving out of its Barrington office and is trying to set up a_facility in Palatine which would serve as headquar- ters and as an indoor transfer and recyclables sorting site. He also reported that there is no progress to report on the acquisi- tion of the Multigraphics site by the Village. The matter is in executive session because it includes land acquisitions. Several Commission members had attended the recent Army Corps of Engineers' public hearing on the balefill. Ken Westlake report- ed that EPA had some specific objections to the present design and plan, but that alterations could satisfy the objections. Herb Weeks added that he felt that the balefill would probably be approved and that it would cost about $60,000,000 before the first load could be accepted. Herb Weeks discussed the letter from Mallard Lake Landfill re- garding yard wastes. He mentioned that figures on landfill longevity are very fuzzy, and numbers depend a lot on,the area in which they are discussed. He also mentioned that several landfills are starting to put volume limits on current custom- ers, such as limiting them to the same volume that was dumped in prior years. The Forest Preserve is also getting fussy about accepting limbs or leaves. He also reported that Arlington Heights has decided not to pick up leaves this fall. Apparent- ly, that Village decided the cost of the vacuum trucks was too great. However, several other villages have been seeking advice from Mount Prospect on how to run a leaf program. The twenty- year old program in Mount Prospect is being viewed as a model program by other villages. The farmer who is accepting Mount Prospect's leaves is charging the Village about $16,000 per year, which is about 1/3 the landfill or compost site fees. The farm is about 40 acres and has been able to accommodate the leaves picked up by the vacuum truck. George Luteri mentioned that the Village should consider acquiring a farm, possibly in cooperation with other villages, to compost yard waste and raise trees for transplanting. SUBCOMMITTEE ON OUTREACH TO COMMERCIAL GENERATORS Paul Hofert reported that the subcommittee on commercial recy- cling had met. The subcommittee feels that they should meet with the Chamber of Commerce before any specific proposals are made. He reported that Janet Hansen of the Chamber is organiz- ing a task force on commercial and retail recycling. The subcom- mittee will try to meet with the group in early July. Several issues that need to be addressed in a commercial recycling pro- gram are the kinds amenable to recycling, markets for such ma- terials and multiple waste haulers that service the businesses. One suggested strategy was to approach concentrations of busi- nesses such as Randhurst that could be enlisted to serve as models to anchor the program. Paul Hofert passed around informa- tion he had received from a paper recycler who is looking to purchase office and computer paper. It was suggested that a list of paper recyclers be assembled and made available (without recommendation) to businesses.. Ken Westlake indicated that he had access to some directories that might provide a list of local office paper recyclers. It was generally agreed that whatever approach we take we should strive to make it as easy as possible for -the businesses. OTHER BUSINESS Ken Westlake mentioned that some villages are considering regu- lating compost piles. The Commission members generally were not in favor of drafting rules for composting, preferring in- stead to wait and see if any problems develop. George Luteri mentioned that he did not see any recycling bins at the recent Park Fest sponsored by the Park District. He asked Herb Weeks if there were plans to have bins placed at the upcoming Hometown Days. Herb Weeks responded that Ken Fritz is cooperating closely with the Village on the -Hometown Days plans. Public Works will see that there are bins available. Paul Hofert indicated that he still supports the idea of having Goodwill follow the garbage trucks in order to collect reusables. A short discussion indicated that there would be a lot of details and questions to be worked out in such a pro- gram. Ken Westlake suggested that Paul Hofert arrange to invite representatives from Goodwill and Wheeling to outline their current arrangement. Herb Weeks announced that the dump tour has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 21. The bus will leave Public Works at 7:30 A.M. A letter received from Nancy Morgan, Human Services Administra- tor, was presented to the Commission, regarding the upcoming _ meetings at the Senior Citizens Center. Dick Bachhuber volun- teered to approach her about a recycling talk for the seniors. NEXT MEETING The Commission's next meeting was set for Thursday, July 19, at 7:30 P.M. at the Public Works facility. Respectfully submitted, George Luteri MLB/LA WASTE: JUNE2IM.IN